Base for a ventilated cooking range

ABSTRACT

A base in the form of an open-box frame for use with a ventilated cooking range, which range includes cooking areas and power driven exhaust fan means for drawing air past adjacency to the cooking areas for entraining cooking smoke, vaporized greases and odor laden gases for exhaustion therefrom, wherein the base houses air exhaust conduit means adaptable for connection to the exhaust fan when the range is received in position on the base for exhausting the cooking smoke, vaporized greases and odor laden gases to exteriorly of the base, for example, through a building wall to the atmosphere. An alternate arrangement is provided wherein an exhaust plenum and filter devices return the ventilating air back into the room.

United States Patent [1 1 Kurek et al.

[ Dec. 16, 1975 BASE FOR A VENTILATED COOKING RANGE [73] Assignee: Jenn Air Corporation, Indianapolis,

Ind.

221 Filed: Mar. 16, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 235,277

[52] US. Cl. 126/21 A; 126/39 B; 126/277 [51] Int. Cl. F24C 15/32 [58] Field of Search... 126/21 R, 21 A, 39 R, 39 B,

126/39 C, 55, 299 R, 299 B, 305, 1, 43, 277,

Primary ExaminerWilliam E. Wayner Assistant ExaminerRonald C. Capossela Attorney, Agent, or FirmWoodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [5 7 ABSTRACT A base in the form of an opembox frame for use with a ventilated cooking range, which range includes cooking areas and power driven exhaust fan means for drawing air past adjacency to the cooking areas for entraining cooking smoke, vaporized greases and odor laden gases for exhaustion therefrom, wherein the base houses air exhaust conduit means adaptable for connection to the exhaust fan when the range is received in position on the base for exhausting the cooking smoke, vaporized greases and odor laden gases to exteriorly of the base, for example, through a building wall to the atmosphere.

An alternate arrangement is provided wherein an exhaust plenum and filter devices return the ventilating air back into the room.

2 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,926,171

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h n g FROM FAN DISCHARGE Sheet 2 of 4 US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet4of4 3,926,171

I W N J Fig. 10

VENTILATING AIR f 60 V J BROILER 3 62 1 OVEN VENTILATING AIR OR EXHAUST BACK i T0 ROOM To FILTER ATMOSPHERE BASE FOR A VENTILATED COOKING RANGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a base in the form of an openbox frame for use with a ventilated cooking range of the type generally disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,587,555 issued June 28, 1971 to Joseph J. Cerola in a manner for converting the range into a free standing range and housing conduit means for discharging cooking smoke, vaporized greases and odor laden gases therefrom.

Track means are disposed across the top of the base for slidably receiving complementary means on bottom of a cooking range of the counter drop-in type for positioning the range on the base at a predetermined location so that the exhaust fan in the range and conduit means within the base are adjacently disposed for easy connection and disconnection.

The base is adapted to house, contain or support the air exhaust conduit means within or thereunder in a plurality of positions for its exit through a building wall to the atmosphere.

BRIEF SUMIVIARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a base for converting a drop-in counter top type cooking range to a free standing range.

It is another object of this invention to provide a base housing exhaust conduit means and adapted to removably receive thereon a ventilated cooking range in a manner whereby exhaust air (with entrained cooking smoke, vaporized greases and odor laden gases) is directed into the exhaust conduit.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a base adapted to house, contain or support exhaust conduit means, such as ducting, in any one of plural positions for communication to externally of a building wall.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a base adapted to house, contain and support an exhaust plenum having an entrance for receiving air discharge from a ventilated range for discharging air through filtration back into the room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a counter drop-in type cooking range adapted to be received on a base which is shown in partially exploded view;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooking range on the base, thus illustrating a free-standing range, to which it has been converted;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the base illustrating a cooking range in phantom lines being slid into position thereon;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view illustrating how the range is supported on the base and how it is removably retained thereon by a detent in a predetermined position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base with a ventilated range (in phantom) shown in position thereon for illustrating an air duct connection therebetween and one position of an air discharge conduit;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 illustrating a fitting for establishing a connection between the fan discharge duct and exhaust conduit means;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a ventilated cooking range and base, with exhaust conduit illustrated in two arrangements;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the base only, shown in FIG. 7, with exhaust conduit illustrated in three arrangements;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a base showing an air discharge plenum disposed therein;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the base and looking into the discharge mouth of the plenum;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIG. 10 for illustrating a filter;

FIG. 11a is a frontal view illustrating construction of the filter; and,

FIG. 12 illustrates the flow of ventilating air through the range, discharge conduit and filters, or to atmosphere.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As pointed out in the objects above, the purposes herein are to disclose a base having exhaust conduit housed, contained, or otherwise supported thereby, in a manner for (1) converting a ventilated range into a free-standing range and providing (2) for easy connection and disconnection between the discharge of a fan in the ventilated range and a fitting on the base in communicating with discharge conduit for leading to the atmosphere exteriorly of a building. In the alternative, the base may be provided with a plenum for directing air through filter means for discharging ventilating air back into the room.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a ventilated cooking range 10 adapted to be received on a base 12 (shown as partially exploded for illustrating its components). FIG. 2 illustrates the range, as a free-standing range, after it has been assembled on the base.

Range 10 may be of the type known in the trade as a drop-in or slide-in range since by its design it is adapted to fit into a cut out or opening in a kitchen counter, and be supported from the counter top on either side thereof. After such a range is assembled on a base such as shown in FIG. 2, it becomes what is known as a free-standing range. In the present invention, the base is adapted to receive a range of this type which is provided with air ventilation means according to the disclosure, for example, in US. Pat. No. 3,587,555 issued June 28, 1971 to Joseph J. Cerola, and assigned to Jenn-Air Corporation. Base 12, shown in several figures, is disclosed in partially exploded view in FIG. 1. The base comprises a pair of formed sheet metal channels 14, 16, each having horizontal top portions and depending legs, which are adapted to rest on a kitchen floor; side braces 18 and 20 on either side connecting the channels; front brace 22 across the front near floor level for connecting the legs; and, track means in the form of angles 24, 26 across the top of the channels. The base 12 is generally in the form of an open rectangular frame for receiving and supporting therein air discharge conduit or an exhaust plenum. The base 12 includes a plate 28 located near onecorner thereof which has a central opening 30 therein to which connection is made with exhaust air conduit housed within the frame and with the exhaust discharge conduit 32 of a power driven fan located in ventilated range 10, when the range is in position on the base.

Panels, such as side panels 34, 36 and front panel 38, are adapted to enclose the base frame and be attached thereto by bolts or other securing means. As will be seen in further embodiments, front panel 38 may be removed and replaced by an open grill for supporting a filter for use with an exhaust plenum arrangement.

FIG. 3, which is a left hand elevation view, shows base 12 secured to a floor with a range being moved or slid into position thereon. Tracks 24 and 26, in the form of angles, are secured across the top of the frame in a fore-and-aft position so as to receive thereon complementary means, such as angles 40, 40 on the bottom of range 10. Preferably, at the time the ventilated range 10 is being positioned on base 12, an air exhaust conduit has been assembled within the frame of base 12 and has been extended through a building wall to the atmosphere. Cooperating means such as detents are provided on the facing surfaces of angles 24 and 40, and angles 26 and 40, for securing them in predeter mined position. Such are illustrated in the several figures, but particularly FIG. 4 wherein a hole 42 is provided in track 24 (also in track 26) which receives therein a protrusion 44 on the bottom of angle 40. Other means, such as a bolt or stud, can be provided for positioning in hole 42, or the protrusion and recess may be located vice-versa with respect to the mating angles.

Range 10 is adapted to be positioned on base 12 by manually sliding it across tracks 24, 26, as illustrated in FIG. 3, followed by lowering the front portion into position so that the detents 42 and 44 are aligned for one to be received within the other. Their cooperation prevents longitudinal displacement between mating angles 24 and 40, and mating angles 26 and 40. When the range is in the position illustrated in FIG. 5, and exhaust fan 50 has its exhaust port 52 in proximity and substantial alignment with opening 30 in plate 28, connection is established by flexible conduit 32. Conduit 32 may be of various construction, but as disclosed herein, comprises a helically wound wire skeleton with an impervious sheet covering. It is adapted to slide over exhaust port 52 at one end and into opening 30 in the other end for establishing communication therebetween. See FIG. 6 for a sectional view illustrating the removable connection of conduit 32 into opening 30 in plate 28 and which opening defining an entrance to air discharge conduit 56.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the ventilated range 10, of the type generally disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,587,555, on base 12. Ventilating air is drawn across cooking units 58 and across upwardly facing open-air broiler 60, and selectively through oven 62, as shown, to be expelled through fan 50 exhaust port 52, flexible conduit 32, and into air discharge conduit 56 which may communicate through a building wall to the atmosphere. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the numeral 56 generally identifies air discharge conduit which is at least to some extent housed, associated with or supported from the frame of base 12. Conduit 56, immediately below its connection with opening 30 may be in many forms or arrangements, such as illustrated in Arrangements A, B, C, D and E. See FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. Wall and floor joist construction partially determine whether a round conduit of flat duct such as sheet metal, are preferable. Furthermore, the disposition of conduit or ducts as illustrated by the several arrangements depends to a large extent upon the kitchen layout and building construction.

Since the frame of base 12 is open and accessible from practically all directions to workmen (except when panels 34, 36 and 38 are installed), air discharge conduit 56 can be easily installed in the desired arrangement. The base may rest on resilient and leveling footings such as identified by the numerals 60, or the base may be secured directly to the floor by lag bolts or the like (not shown). Panels 34, 36 and 38 may be attached to enclose the base. After the range is moved onto the base, as illustrated in FIG. 3, an access door (not shown) in range 10 permits workmen to make the final connection of conduit 32.

Brackets 53 are shaped to be slidably received over channel 16 of the base, or around the legs thereof, and have nails, or other securing means, driven therethrough into spaced apart building studs or joist. In this manner the base is secured in desired position on the floor.

An alternate arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 11a wherein a sheet metal plenum is housed, or otherwise contained, within the frame of base 12 for the purpose of collecting exhaust air from the ventilated range and conducting it through filtering means back into the same room. The entrance to plenum 70 is in the form of an opening 72 having a surrounding collar 74 which is adapted for connection into opening 30 in plate 28. The exit from plenum 70 comprises a rectangular mouth opening 76 which extends substantially across the front of the base. Baffle means 78 may be provided in the plenum to attain uniform distribution of exhaust air through mouth opening 76. A filter, identified generally by the numeral 80, is provided at the mouth of the plenum across the front of the base, replacing panel 38 which is used when exhaust ducting 56 extends to the outside of a building.

In the cross-sectional view of the ventilated range illustrated in FIG. 7, it is shown that ventilating air, after having collected cooking smoke, vaporized greases and odor laden gases from the cooking areas, such as from open broiler 60, may be passed through a mesh-like metal filter 82. Here a substantial portion of the vaporized greases condense and drain into removable tray 84. Final filter 80 comprises a first filter 86 of small diamter fibers, such as polyethylene fibers, for extracting additional particles entrained in the air stream, and a second filter 88 of charcoal impregnated porous material such as cardboard for absorbing odors entrapped in the air stream. The fiber and charcoal filters are located at the mouth of the plenum and housed in a removable grill frame 90 so that they can be replaced from time to time, as required from usage.

Installation of a ventilated broiler (FIG. 7) on a base 12, which houses a plenum 70, is substantially identical to that described with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 8.

FIG. 12 represents an air flow pattern shown passing through or in proximity to the various components disclosed in this invention and discharged to the atmosphere, or alternately through filter means for discharge back into the room.

A disclosure has been made in this specification with appropriate reference to illustrations in the drawings, along with the invention defined in the claims, in compliance with the patent statutes. Preferred embodiments have been described. It is obvious that variation can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a support base and a built-in type cooking range assembly incorporating within the range assembly a powered ventilating means for the range which exhausts through a conduit accessible at the underside of the range assembly, said support base comprising a rectangular box-like frame resting on a floor or other supporting surface with its lower face adjacent the supporting surface and its upper face accommodating, in overlying relation, the base portion of the range assembly, horizontal guide rails carried on support base. 

1. In combination, a support base and a built-in type cooking range assembly incorporating within the range assembly a powered ventilating means for the range which exhausts through a conduit accessible at the underside of the range assembly, said support base comprising a rectangular box-like frame resting on a floor or other supporting surface with its lower face adjacent the supporting surface and its upper face accommodating, in overlying relation, the base portion of the range assembly, horizontal guide rails carried on two opposite upper margins of said support base providing for sliding insertion of the range assembly into overlying relation to said support base, a discharge duct accommodated within said support base frame with its entrance supported by said frame adjacent the upper face thereof and adapted for registering connection to the range ventilating means exhaust conduit when the range assembly is in place on said support base.
 2. A support base as claimed in claim 1 in which said discharge duct extends beyond the confines of said Support base. 